Food & Drink Guide 2009.
The Old Crown is tucked away in the tiny village of Messing. It offers a warm and cosy enviroment to enjoy a quite drink away from the masses and indulge in the delectable menu.
There are two parts to this pub. One is the comfortable and carpeted bar area, with leather chairs next to a roaring open fire, the other is much airier, lighter dining room with dark word furniture and tablesset for dining. Above the fire is the menu, written on chalkboards due to the ever changing dishes, which rely on ingredients the chef can locally obtain. And that is the magic of this place; the emphasis is on homemade, traditional forgotten favourites, created using local produce.
Diners can choose from hot and cold starters, each lovingly prepared from scratch in house. Game and beef dishes are popular, with most meals priced under £10. The Old Crown reminds us of what traditional "pub grub" should be, with beautifully cooked beer battered fish and chips, steak and kidney pudding, oxtail in Guiness, local rabbit in rosemary and cream, and award winning sausages and mash with onion gravy all on offer.
Sundays offer a choice of three different roasts, locally suppllied, of course, by widely acclaimed butcher G. Millin & Son in Tiptree, served with all the trimmings - generous portions at a generous price.
As if all this wasnt enough, the desserts are a real trip back in time, with bread and butter pudding, sticky toffee pudding and the chef's special "Tiptree Jam Doughnut" a favourite of the Director of Tiptree Jam himself.
The food isnt the only classic in this restaurant. The walls are adorned with old-fashioned memorabilia from Oxo, Bisto and other enduring family favourites. Hunting scenes hang in frames, giving a nod to the traditions of the countryside, and although the music is unobtrusive over the punters banter, it gently adds to the sense of tradtitional pub comfort.
All this, together with the friendly and informal nature of the staff, helps to make a welcoming dining experience.
Come for the food. Stay for the company.
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